Elements and Performance Criteria

RANGE STATEMENT
The Range Statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording in the Performance Criteria is detailed below
OHS requirements are to be in accordance with Commonwealth, State or Territory legislation and regulations, and organisational safety policies and procedures. Requirements may include:
the use of personal protective equipment and clothing
safety equipment
first aid equipment
fire fighting equipment
hazard and risk control
elimination of hazardous materials and substances
safe forest practices including required actions relating to forest fire
manual handling including shifting, lifting and carrying
Legislative requirements are to be in accordance with applicable legislation from all levels of government that affect organisational operation. Requirements may include:
award and enterprise agreements
industrial relations
Australian Standards
confidentiality and privacy
OHS
the environment
equal opportunity
anti-discrimination
relevant industry codes of practice
duty of care
heritage and traditional land owner issues
Organisational requirements
may include legal, organisational and site guidelines, policies and procedures relating to own role and responsibility, quality assurance, procedural manuals, quality and continuous improvement processes and standards, OHS, emergency and evacuation, ethical standards, recording and reporting, access and equity principles and practices, equipment use, maintenance and storage, environmental management (waste disposal, recycling and re-use guidelines)
Falling
may require the use of multiple back-cuts
Trees
for falling will have the following characteristics: height not more than 40 metres, lean and weight distribution which can be adapted to falling direction with the use of wedges and or control with hinge wood, single leader, sound wood condition in barrel
Environmental protection measures
may include noise, ground growth, canopy, general forest lean, wind speed and direction, fallen trees, density of trees, ground slope, soil and water protection, ground hazards, obstacles. Measures may also include contingencies for modifying operations during wet or other adverse weather conditions
Work plan
is to include information and instructions relevant to tree falling operations including processing location details and trees to be felled and retained. Information may also include general environmental requirements, site plan and environmental features
Appropriate personnel
may include supervisors, clients, colleagues, line management
Tools and equipment
may include warning signs, chainsaw and components, personal protective equipment and clothing, first aid equipment, maintenance requirements, fuel
Maintenance
of chainsaw and components may include sharpening and making adjustments as required
Communication
may include verbal and non-verbal language, constructive feedback, active listening, questioning to clarify and confirm understanding, use of positive, confident and cooperative language, use of language and concepts appropriate to individual social and cultural differences, control of tone of voice and body language, hand signals
Environmental conditions
may relate to ground growth, canopy, general forest lean, ground slope, ground hazards, wind speed and direction, wet weather including ice and snow
Conditions
in which falling will be undertaken include ground slope not more than 15 degrees, moderate wind speed, absence in growth of fallen trees preventing complete fall, works with general supervision available to provide assistance related to planning, falling
Limitations
may relate to job role and responsibilities, own competency level, industry requirements, own understanding of risk identification processes, own interpretation of legislation, regulations and procedures, complying with OHS requirements
Assistance
may be required in situations where cuts made may lead to loss of control of tree in falling, to confirm and adjust cutting techniques in response to movement and condition of tree, to help clear trees that hang up during falling
Visual assessment
may cover size, weight distribution, lean, species, multi leaders, soundness of timber, growth characteristics and stresses

EVIDENCE GUIDE
The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package
Overview of assessment
A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to provide evidence that they can safely and efficiently assess, plan and conduct tree falling operations in accordance with environmental and organisational requirements
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Comply with applicable Commonwealth, State or Territory legislative and regulatory requirements and codes of practice, including OHS, environmental and organisational policies and procedures, relevant to falling trees manually (intermediate)
Comply with applicable licensing or certification requirements
Communicate effectively and work safely with others including maintaining an awareness of other personnel activity in the work area
Contribute to a tree assessment, plan and fall trees within the range of variables for trees and conditions

Visually assess trees and determine falling characteristics
Select, use and maintain appropriate tools and equipment and recognise faults, problems or malfunctions
Safely operate and maintain a chainsaw
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Competency is to be assessed in the workplace or realistically simulated workplace
Assessment is to occur under standard and authorised work practices, safety requirements and environmental constraints
Assessment of essential underpinning knowledge, other than confirmatory questions, will usually be conducted in an off-site context
Assessment is to comply with relevant regulatory or Australian Standards requirements
The following resources should be made available:
workplace location or simulated workplace
materials and equipment relevant to manual falling of trees (intermediate)
specifications and work instructions
Method of assessment
Assessment must satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the FPI05 Training Package
Assessment methods must confirm consistency and accuracy of performance (over time and in a range of workplace relevant contexts) together with application of underpinning knowledge
Assessment must be by direct observation of tasks, with questioning on underpinning knowledge and it must also reinforce the integration of key competencies
Assessment methods must confirm the ability to access and correctly interpret and apply the essential underpinning knowledge
Assessment may be applied under project-related conditions (real or simulated) and require evidence of process
Assessment must confirm a reasonable inference that competency is able not only to be satisfied under the particular circumstance, but is able to be transferred to other circumstances

Assessment may be in conjunction with assessment of other units of competency
The assessment environment should not disadvantage the candidate
Assessment practices should take into account any relevant language or cultural issues related to Aboriginality, gender or language backgrounds other than English
Where the participant has a disability, reasonable adjustment may be applied during assessment
Language and literacy demands of the assessment task should not be higher than those of the work role